Check out the trailer for my new story Darker Than Sin! (Thanks to the amazing @ADreamingReality)

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Dedication: Kawaiisupergirl for your comments <3

Recap:

The wind is knocked out of my lungs. The choking sound in my throat blisters my ears as I claw at his foot. The pressure, it's too much.

I'm going to die.

The harder I try to breathe, the worst the pain gets.

"Boss, let's go," one of the men insists, but Carlos' eyes are wild and dangerous. The words go through one ear and straight out the other.

My entire body sags against the ground. Darkness beads across my vision, swallowing me whole.

The last thing I picture in my mind, is her.

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"I thought you had plans tonight?"

Me too, I think sourly as I stomp past mum.

"Plans changed." The bitterness is embedded in my voice as I reach for the juice and drink straight from the carton.

"You do realise we all drink that?" Mum asks me, quirking her eyebrow.

"Yes," I reply sharply, before marching out of the kitchen, feeling like a moody brat.

While I mount the stairs, I ring Miles again, only for it to go straight to his voicemail.

I'm beginning to feel sick.

I don't know what I want more - to scream, to cry, or to have a drink. Possibly all three.

A part of me wants to rush over to the party, to see if he's there. To see if history is really repeating itself, while the other half of me has given up. I want to sit in the corner of my room and rock back and forth.

Deciding to go with neither, I collapse onto the mattress and stare at the ceiling, feeling exhausted.

I could go to his house, but if he's there and not with me, that would make me appear even more pathetic.

If something has happened to him... I will never forgive myself.

Suddenly, I leap to my feet. I'm going back to school. I'll see if his bike is there and then I will decide what to do.

With new-found determination, I rush downstairs, hoping I'm not too late.

***

Miles' POV:

Minutes might have passed. Maybe even hours. All I know, is that I'm going to die, if I don't get up.

Screaming through my teeth, I push myself onto my knees. My arms shake so violently that I dig my fingers into the dirt, to stop myself passing out. I squeeze my eyes shut, begging my body to give me the strength to get to a hospital.

After a few minutes of trying, I finally get to my feet. White hot pain spurs my side and I see black. I double over, clutching my side.

My breath is coming out in short, fast pants. I glance towards the parking lot. It's so far and even if I make it, I am in no condition to ride my bike. I don't think I could even swing my leg over to the other side.

I begin walking towards my house. Every step feels like someone has lodged a knife in my side and is stabbing me over and over. I struggle to grip on reality as I limp, ever so slowly, feeling weaker with each passing moment.

It really does feel like hours this time, when I stumble to my door. I could have gone to the Collins', but for all I know, they're at the party. My house is much closer, anyway.

I can hear the music blaring and I cringe. Clusters of people litter my lawn, red cups in hands, swaying.

Paying them no mind, I stumble inside. I need a familiar face. I need someone to help.

Gasps are heard around me as people begin to notice the bleeding boy, staggering through the party. The music is lowered and someone's calls out to me, asking if I'm alright.

I see her.

Emily, dressed in all black with a guy whispering in her ear, near the kitchen.

"Emily," I rasp and she turns to me, her eyes bulging in their sockets.

"Jesus!" she shrieks and rushes over to me, gripping her tiny hands around my arms.

"How drunk are you?"

"I'm shit-faced," she tells me honestly and I can see it, her eyes a blood shot as hell. "But I'll drive. I'm okay."

I shake my head, unable to stop the tears from falling down my cheeks.

"You can't drive. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?" she asks in disbelief, glaring at me. "You're fucking dying, by the looks of it!"

She stumbles towards the key rack and plucks her keys from the holder. She wraps her arm around me and begins to drag me through the house. A random guy comes to my other side and offers his strength. I lean all my weight onto the guy helping, knowing that Emily can't withstand my weight.

Everyone steps back, their eyes wide as I'm carried outside.

The guy drops me into the backseat and I groan, clutching my stomach. I want to thank him, but I'm in agony.

"Do you need me with you?" the guy asks her.

"No, I'm fine," she replies tersely, sliding behind the wheel. "Thanks Carl."

"Hey Emily?" I breathe once the door is shut and I'm able to breathe again.

"Yeah?"

"Try not to kill me," I somehow manage to smile.

"Attempting to do the opposite, even though you're a total jack ass," she rolls her eyes and starts the car.

Despite our differences, I am thankful she's willing to help me out.

She lurches forward and I shoot my hand out, grabbing the passenger seat. I wince, beginning to feel cold.

"Hang in there, Miles," she murmurs.

My body sags with exhaustion and I close my eyes.

"Miles?" she asks. "Miles!"

I try to open my eyes, but I simply can't.

***

Emily's POV:

"Oh shit," I curse to myself and stomp on the accelerator.

I blink rapidly, trying to focus. Why did I drink so much? Why do I always drink so much?

It's only ten minutes to the hospital from our place, but it seems a hell lot longer than that. My fingers wrap tighter around the wheel.

The last time I drove to this hospital, I was fumbling around the car, trying to stop the damn wipers from going. I hadn't learnt to drive, at that point.

I speed into the emergency stopping bay, as I've done before, and leap from the car, the engine still running.

A doctor - or a nurse - is leaning against the building, a smoke in hand.

"Help!" I screech, like they do in the movies.

He jumps, startled. He stamps on his cigarette, before pressing buttons wildly on his pager. He rushes over to me.

"What on earth!" he exclaims as he stares at a motionless Miles.

A number of other doctors come rushing out the doors, a stretcher in tow. I hastily step back and bite my fingernails as they slowly remove him from the car.

He already looks dead.

The colour drains from my face as they wheel him away.

"Come with me," a girl says to me, touching my shoulder. "The police are on their way. They'll have questions."

"I-I don't know anything," I stammer and she looks at me skeptically. Most likely because I'm drunk.

"How did you find him?" she questions but there is nothing accusing about her tone, only curiosity.

"I was at a party at my own house - the house we share - and he stumbled in like this..." I trail off. "I don't know who did this..."

Or do I?

She nods, leading me towards the waiting room. When I sit, she brings me a plastic cup of water.

"Here, drink this. It will help sober you up," she says gently, before leaving me.

I dig my elbows into my thighs, feeling shaky. Some of the water laps over the side and spills onto my trembling fingers.

Eli had planned something. When he was asking me about the game, about Miles' plans with Isobel, I knew he was up to something. I would never have agreed if I knew this was going to happen.

Sure, I dislike Isobel and Miles together, because he's hot and he's a decent guy. Who wouldn't fall for him? But whatever happened, is messed up. He didn't deserve this. And honestly? Neither did she.

A doctor walks past me and flickers his eyes to me, a look of disapproval on his face. I see the judgement in his eyes. I lower my head and my shoulders sag. I look at my skimpy skirt and mid-drift top, feeling ashamed of myself.

I shield my face from his gaze. I hate the smell of this hospital. It reminds me of the last time I was here.

I came home from school. My mother was on the kitchen floor, her wrists bleeding. I was only fifteen and I drove her to the hospital. I didn't even know how to drive. But I did.

Staggering to my feet, I fall on my knees on the hard floor and throw up into the bin, wishing I was anywhere else, but here.

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What did you guys think about seeing into Emily's mind briefly? Any other thoughts on the chapter?

Happy New Year everyone! Hope none of you are as hungover as I am haha

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